 |
| Latest Signing Adam Davies Started For Hereford |
Emerging from the dressing room into the mist and barely
visible to the 823 supporting fans, Hereford, sitting 4 points clear at the top of the league and playing
in the Red and Black away strip, had a challenging match ahead of them from the
Supermarine team, currently in 4th place in the league and who have
been in 3 of the last 4 seasons playoffs.
Attacking towards the Swindome end, Hereford set the pace
for the match, applying pressure in the Swindon box from the get-go with a
Haysham opening shot at goal, kick-starting the keepers game with an early
save.
The cleared ball going no further than the centre line where
Dinsley on the break quickly took control, passing to Plummer on the right who set
up Mills but conceded a corner taken by Haysham which was poorly cleared by
Swindon to be swept up by McGrath on the halfway line, feeding back into the
box for a shot at goal by Mills, which again was saved but the linesman waved
for offside.
A goal kick goes straight to Dinsley in the centre, through
to Mills who is again flagged offside as he makes a run down the right hand
side.
In a 442 format, Hereford were consistently forcing the pace
into the Swindon box, even though Swindon were moving the ball around ensuring
Hereford were having to work hard to stay in the Swindon half. 10 minutes in, still 0-0 but Hereford currently
showing Swindon why there are top of the league, just as Plummer puts in a low
cross cleared by the defence for another corner, taken by Haysham, swinging
away from the goal and easily headed away back towards the Hereford half.
A free kick, moments later, sees Oates caught in a tackle
which takes him down on the edge of the box.
Dinsley takes it, the ball soaring up over the wall towards the right
hand corner of the goal resulting in a goal kick.
With Hereford applying all the pressure, Horsall is yet to
be tested in the Hereford goal as once again, Haysham takes another shot
straight at the keeper. Haysham tries
again from a free kick, this time punched away by the Swindon keeper. The fog is getting thicker, making it
difficult to see across the pitch, like ghostly shadows moving back and
forth. Symons suddenly breaks with a
flick onto Mills who outplays the defender with some great footwork on the edge
of the box, breaking free of the defence and shooting for goal but straight at
the keeper who scoops it for a catch.
23 minutes in and the fog is getting even thicker,
impossible to make out who has control of the ball. A foul from Swindon resulted in a lengthy
chat from the Referee but no yellow card was shown. A free kick to Swindon taken down the right
hand side is cleared with a kick from Horsell which is quickly manoeuvred into
the Swindon half where Plummer takes an 18 yard shot but goes wide. A goal is still illusive to Hereford. They try again, this time Dinsley retains
the ball in the midfield passing to Haysham, working with Mills for a another
corner again easily cleared by the compact Swindon defence.
Hereford come again, Haysham is taken down for a free kick
on a late tackle, taken quickly direct to Symons but the Referee is not happy
and brings it back to be taken again.
Most of the action is being soaked up by the midfield with strong
performances from McGrath & Dinsley with Hereford back 4 not being put
under any pressure from a Swindon attack as yet.
Spoke too soon as Swindon take a shot which is blocked by
Green and Oates, another strong pairing at the back, for a corner on the right to
Swindon, cleared by Symons for another corner, this time on the left, the
Hereford defence easily clearing for a Swindon throw in.
Plummer and Dinsley work together in the next attacking wave
through the midfield. Plummer driving in a low cross and again, Swindon defence
intercepts and heads it away. Dinsley
comes again, this time shooting from the edge of the box and goes over the
top. With 10 mins to go Dinsley tries
again from the edge of the box but again denied.
Hereford maintain the pressure, this time down the left hand
side, with the fog clearing, opening up the field of play, the ball pushed
through the midfield and out wide to Davies who puts the cross in across the face
of the goal, finding Symons, who puts it in the back of the net. GOAL! An excellent debut pass, from Davies, to put
Hereford 1-0 up in the 38th minute.
The mist is rising from the pitch as Hereford drive forward again, McGrath & Dinsley working through the centre, out to Plummer who is brought down and appeals for a penalty. The Referee disagrees and gives a corner instead, taken by McGrath, safely headed away, picked up by Haysham who feeds to Symons and then back to Mills who strikes at goal and hits the post.
After a competitive first half, Hereford lead by 1-0 at Half
Time
In the second half Hereford come out with the same attacking
attitude, Mills taking an early shot over to the right corner. Hereford maintain the
pressure with an excellent cross from Mills, picking out Haysham who takes a
shot at goal but is way off target. Hereford
try again, this time Davies feeding through to Mills, his shot going wide for a
corner.
Another call for a penalty as Haysham is brought down this
time, in front of goal but the linesman indicates offside. Swindon take this opportunity to make a break
and push towards the Hereford box meeting great defending from Edwards, they
try again but this time Davies clears the ball to Plummer who tries to weave
through a strong Swindon defence.
Some excellent passing between the Hereford midfield stops Swindon from any form of attack, the ball suddenly available for Mills up front in open play, delivering a rolling cross in front of goal to be met with Swindon defence whose clearance kick is weak and taken full on by Haysham for a shot straight into the top left hand corner of the net! GOAL! Hereford go 2-0 up in the 59th minute.
Hereford go on the attack again, this time with a shot from
Mills straight at the keeper, back out to Dinsley who heads it down, straight
back to Mills for another shot at goal but again cleared by the Swindon goalie.
Swindon are quick to move the ball back into the Hereford
half from the goal kick but they are met with Oates and Green, who work
together to close them down. Haysham
picks up a yellow card for tripping up the opposition and pushing to the floor.
The Swindon free kick is straight at the
Hereford goal but is easily cleared by Horsell.
With 25 minutes of the 2nd half to go, Symons is fouled, the
referee bringing the ball back to the half way line. Hereford midfield, again passing the ball with
ease and releasing a through ball straight to Symons on the break who scores…. The
referee disallows the goal as it is deemed offside.
Swindon, still 2-0 down take more risks with their passing
allowing Hereford to pounce and intercept the ball much easier for swifter
breaks on the wing, as Mills, once again, takes the ball down the right
delivering to Plummer who takes a shot at goal hitting the inside of the bar
but bounces just outside of the goal line, still in play, straight back to Symons,
cleared off the line by the keeper, straight back to Plummer who tries again in
front of goal but for a 3rd time is scrambled away by the Swindon
defence. The ball is quickly retrieved
by Mills who puts it back in the box on the right hand side; Dinsley tries to
follow through but couldn’t convert the rebound, Plummer taking a shot from 6
yards out and shoots over the top of the goal.
Subs for Hereford:
Purdy on for Plummer & Molyneux on for Mills
Symons going up front alone now with Purdy and Molyneux
midfield
Swindon Subs: Leigh
on for Selman & Reid on for C Parsons
Horsell takes the free kick straight to Symons, cleared to
Dinsley and out for a Swindon throw in.
Molyneux wins the ball, is fouled but continues through the Swindon
defence, is fouled again, shoots at goal but finds the Swindon keeper instead.
Swindon last Sub: Thompson on for Josh Parsons
Hereford look comfortable clearing and defending any
pressure from Swindon, a break from Purdy towards the Swindon goal, passes to
Dinsley who shoots but goes wide. With 5
minutes to go in normal time, Dinsley feeds the ball to Symons, for a corner
which again, is cleared.
Haysham makes one last push in the dying minutes to be
brought down in the box for a penalty in the 90th minute.. Joe Sheppard receives a yellow card.
With no Mills on the pitch, Symons steps up and takes the
spot kick straight into the net, making it his 2nd GOAL of the
match. Hereford go 3-0 up.
Play is restarted but as soon as the ball goes out of play, the Referee blows for Full Time.
Hereford win 3-0 to retain the 4 point advantage at the top
of the league with one game in hand.
A strong solid performance by Hereford, dominating the match
from the start and the most cohesive play to date. A more settled team with an excellent work
rate throughout the match, quality passing and attempts at goal that could
easily have yielded 6 or 7 goals in poor visibility and against a strong
defensive side.
MAN OF THE MATCH
How do you choose one player who stands out among a team
that gave us 90 minutes of top quality football? A solid midfield, working in harmony, a
strong back row, a working partnership on the wing and up front… in particular
Dinsley and Plummer… but if I had to choose, it would be Adam Davies, very
composed and a powerful performance on his debut with Hereford considering
having to wait 2 weeks for International clearance but in all a huge
Congratulations to Beadle and the squad for a sterling, quality match.
TEAM: Horsell,
Davies, Edwards (c), McGrath, Green, Oates, Plummer, Dinsley, Mills, Haysham,
Symons
SUBS: Edge, Purdie,
Willetts, Molyneux, Alex Harris
Next match is not until Tues 1st November at home to Larkhall - KO 7.45pm